Thomas Klena

RnD Excellence Manager at AUMOVIO

Washington, Michigan, United States

About

Experience

  • RnD Excellence Manager at AUMOVIO
    Sep 2025 - Present · 10 mos

  • Continental (9 yrs 5 mos)
    • Hardware Engineering Excellence Manager
      Jun 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 1 mo

      • Responsible for multiple Engineering Excellence improvement programs such as DFMEA facilitation globally, Sustainability in Engineering (developing new guidelines, roadmap generation, etc), • Global lead for DV and PV first pass yield tracking and improvements • North America representative for Mechanical Engineering Solutions where global Mechanical Engineering direction is determined and rolled out • ASPICE provisional assessor

    • Head of Mechanical Design/Engineering at Continental, Body & Security Division, North America
      Feb 2017 - Jul 2022 · 5 yrs 6 mos

      • Responsible for Mechanical Engineering in both Troy, MI and Guadalajara, MX locations. Implemented vision to improve Quality/reduce engineering ‘defects’, teamwork, increase efficiency, go ‘Double Speed’ and balance workload while maintaining customer focus within budget and timing • Owner for 3 Mechanical Laboratories, including investment planning and priority management • Led computer Aided Simulation (structural) engineers with significant investments made to achieve vision of ‘Double Speed’, while including robustness and optimization analysis.

  • TRW Automotive (21 yrs 11 mos)
    • Chief Engineer
      Dec 2013 - Jan 2017 · 3 yrs 2 mos

      Chief Engineer of the Inflatable Restraints Product Line, North America for TRW Occupant Safety Systems. Responsible for several managers/departments as well as technical specialists and product leads (~40 persons). Extensive customer interface, both for ‘problem solving’ and strategic direction discussions. Divisional representative at multiple corporate external events, both community and customer.

    • Safety Systems Manager
      Nov 2009 - Dec 2013 · 4 yrs 2 mos

      Responsibile for managing the systems performance and system simulation departments for Occupant Safety Systems North America. Managed various specialists with integrating all of TRW portfolio products to meet customer and TRW program goals and deliverables. Dual role of being ‘customer lead’ for ‘diversified markets’ focusing mainly on growth in the Commercial Vehicle market segment as well as other diversified market segments.• Divisional representative at multiple corporate events, both community and customer. This includes corporate member on SAE Truck Crashworthiness Committee and American Trucking Association-Technology Council. Direct interaction with the Dept. of Transportation – NHTSA on multiple levels/projects. Co-authored SAE paper 2011-01-2294 ‘Characterization of Commercial Vehicle Crashes and Driver Injury’

    • Technical Specialist
      Jan 2004 - Nov 2009 · 5 yrs 11 mos

      Main customer interface for ‘acquisition’ programs with traditional and non-traditional automotive OEM’s such as military vehicles and startup ‘micro’ OEM’s, including preparing quotations, engineering development scope/budgets and obtaining both customer and internal management approvals. System integrator responsible for providing complete TRW safety systems to non-traditional automotive OEM’s. Scope included styling, design and development, validation and certification. Developed multiple advanced technologies/features ranging from individual projects/features to participation in global product development teams to expand/improve the corporate technical portfolio. Divisional representative on several corporate projects/initiatives (DFMEA, Lean Product Development, etc.). Responsible for coordinating and presenting customer technology reviews ranging from engineering level discussions to OEM executive management. Proven results in obtaining multi-millions of dollars of customer funding for various projects and maintaining target of 10-15% profitability.